Laksiri International Freight Forwarders Private Ltd vs Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Colombo East) – SC Appeal 20/2024 & 21/2024-2025

In the case between the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Colombo East) and associated Labour Department entities (Plaintiff/Respondent) and Laksiri International Freight Forwarders Private Ltd (Defendant/Appellant), the court addressed the issue of whether sufficient evidence existed to establish an employer-employee relationship under the Payment of Gratuity Act, specifically between the Virtual Complainant and the Appellant. It was held that unauthenticated and unverified documents cannot be relied upon to prove such a relationship, and the appeal was allowed, thereby setting aside previous lower court decisions. This holding reaffirmed the principle that adherence to natural justice, particularly the opportunity for a party to challenge documentary evidence, is essential in adjudicatin